Method of glass charge shaping and forming into a glass article

ABSTRACT

A method of and a device for manufacturing hollow glass articles, in which glass charges cut from a stream of molten glass are shaped into blanks which are transferred onto carriers and which are subsequently blown into hollow articles by a forming operation. Because, according to the invention, the shaped blanks are exclusively displaced according to a twodimensional movement pattern of movement during their transfer to the carriers, the transport time of the blanks can be reduced so that the overall process can be performed more quickly.

United States Patent Buurman et al.

METHOD OF GLASS CHARGE SHAPING AND FORMING INTO A GLASS ARTICLE [75]Inventors: Herman Buurman; Hendrik Romberg, both of Emmasingcl,Eindhoven. Netherlands [73] Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Oct. 3, 1973 [211 App]. No.: 403,099

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. ll, I973 Netherlands 7305030[52] U.S. Cl 65/127, 65/133. 65/l84, 65/241 {SI} Int. Cl C03b 5/26 [58]Field of Search 65/l33, I84, 260, 241, 65/174, 113,112, 127

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 814.773 3/1906 Dixon et al.65/l33 Feb. 25, 1975 2,235,359 3/l94l Curry et al....' 65/[84 X 2.53454712/[950 Eislcr 65/174 X 3,240,582 3/l966 Stutske r 65/l27 X 3.287.098ll/l966 Stutskc et al. 65/133 3,642,461 2/l972 Hcaton l. 65/l84 XPrimary E.\'aminerS Leon Bashore Assistant Examiner-Frank W. MigaAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank R. Trifari [57] ABSTRACT A method of anda device for manufacturing hollow glass articles, in which glass chargescut from a stream of molten glass are shaped into blanks which aretransferred onto carriers and which are subsequently blown into hollowarticles by a forming operation. Because, according to the invention.the shaped blanks are exclusively displaced according to atwo-dimensional movement pattern of movement during their transfer tothe carriers, the transport time of the blanks can be reduced so thatthe overall process can be performed more quickly.

3 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 5 SHEU 3 If 8 PATENTED FEB 2 5i975 sum war 8 II a.

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METHOD OF GLASS CHARGE SHAPING AND FORMING INTO A GLASS ARTICLE Theinvention relates to a method of manufacturing hollow glass articles, inwhich glass charges are severed from a stream of molten glass, areseized in their free fall and shaped into blanks which are successivelytransferred onto the supporting surface of carriers which are travellingalong a closed'path and which are each provided with an orifice, theblanks being subsequently formed into hollow articles by the sagging oftheir central portion through the orifice of the carriers and by asubjection to a forming operation, the articles thus obtained beingultimately removed from the carriers.

Methods of this kind are used in particular for the manufacture ofincandescent lamp bulbs, bottles, containers, table wave, etc.

In a method of this kind which is described in US. Pat. No. 2,263,126,the blanks are transferred onto the carriers by first being displacedover a comparatively long trajectory in a direction transverse to themovement of the carriers and by a subsequent second displacement in thedirection of movement of the before their deposition on the carriers.Due to the long trajectory and the change of the direction of movementof the blanks, the transport time is very long in comparison with theoverall cycle of seizing the glass charge, shaping the charge into ablank, and transferring the blank onto a carrier.

The invention has for its object to provide a method in which theoverall cycle may be performed faster and in which the transport timeand the displacements are v very short.

This object is achieved according to the invention mainly in that duringtheir transfer onto the carriers the blanks are displaced, exclusivelyaccording to a twodimensional movement pattern which extends partlyparallel to the supporting surface of the carriers.

As a result, the blanks can be transferred onto the carriers over theshortest possible trajectory over a smooth part without standstill, sothat the transport time is substantially reduced and the entire processcan be performed faster.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, themovement pattern of the blanks is situated in a vertical plane whichalso forms a tangent plane with the path of movement described by thecentre lines of the articles in the carriers.

As a result, in spite of the fact that their movement pattern is onlytwo-dimensional, the blanks can be displaced such that their speed anddirection of movement during deposition are the same as thecircumferential speed and the direction of movement of the carriers,which results in a further reduction of the transport time.

A vertical tangent plane is to be understood to mean a vertical planewhich is at least substantially tangential to the path followed by thecentre lines of the openings in the carriers, that is to say within thetolerances permissible and commonly used in practice; these are in theorder of 0.5 percent of the radius of the said closed path.

In another preferred embodiment of the method according to theinvention, a minimum transport time and an optimum transporttime/shaping time ratio is achieved in that the blanks are deposited onthe carriers substantially at the instant at which the centre line ofthe orifices in the carriers passes the vertical tangent plane, thehorizontal component of the movement pattern then having the samedirection as the movement of the carriers during the passage past thetangent plane. Immediately after the pressing of the blanks, their speedand direction of displacement are progressively adapted to thecircumferential speed and to the direction of movement of the carriers;undesired accelerations and decelerations are thus minimized.

The invention furthermore relates to a device for performing the methodaccording to the invention. This device is provided, in the mannerdescribed in said U.S. Pat. No. 2,263,126, with a glass shear, ablank-shaping mechanism comprising two shaping cups, and a blowing unitcomprising a series of carriers which are movable along a closed pathand which are each provided with an orifice, said carriers beingslidable, in a direction transverse to their direction of movementbetween a receiving position and a blowing position, the said blowingunit furthermore comprising blowing heads and blowing moulds whichcooperate with the carriers. According to the invention this device ischaracterized in that the shaping cups are displaceable with theircentre line in a vertical plane through the cutting point of the glassshear and tangentially to the path of movement described by the centreline of the orifices in the carriers in their receiving position. Incontrast with the known device, the forming cups of the device accordingto the invention are displaceable in a single plane with the result thatthe blanks can be transferred to the blowing unit as quickly aspossible, over an as short as possible distance, in an as short aspossible transport time and with an as small as possible acceleration.The maximum production capacity of a device of this kind is mainlydetermined by the frequency at which the blanks can be transferred to beblowing unit. Because in the device according to the invention thesuccessive cycles, i.e., seizing of a glass charge, shaping the glasscharge into a blank, and transferring the blank to the blowing unit, canbe performed at a very high frequency, the production capacity of thedevice amounts to more than 7,000 products per hour, depending on thearticle to be manufactured; this is about 40 percent higher than thecapacity of comparable devices.

In the said known device, the glass shear is adjustable vertically andthe speeds of the glass shear and of the blank-shaping mechanism arecontrollable; however, the glass shear and the blank-shaping mechanismare arranged on the frame of the blowing unit. In contrast therewith, inthe device according to the invention the glass shear and theblank-shaping mechanism constitute a common cutting-shaping unit, theblowing unit and the cutting-shaping unit being displaceable relative toeach other and being driven at a synchronous speed, independent of eachother.

The independent drive of the two units, enables optimum adaptation oftheir speeds to different articels. Because the glass shear and theblank-shaping mechanism constitute a common unit, the distance betweenthe shear blades of the glass shear and the shaping cups of theblank-shaping mechanism can be minimized, so that the effect ofuncontrolled variations of the cutting and seizing movements isminimized.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, thecutting-shaping unit is adjustable vertically, the blowing unit beingdisplaceable both in the vertical direction and in a directiontransverse to the vertical plane of displacement of the shaping cups. Bythe vertical adjustment of the cutting-shaping unit the geometricalshape and the diameter of the glass charges to be cut off, can beinfluenced however, without changing the once adjusted distance betweenthe shear blades and the shaping cups. By displacement in the verticaldirection the blowing unit can be adjusted such that the blanks to betransferred approach the supporting surface of the carriers as closelyas possible prior to their deposition. By displacement in the transversedirection the blowing unit can be adjusted with respect to thecutting-shaping unit such that the vertical plane of displacement of theforming dishes is practically tangent to the path of movement describedby the centre line of the orifices in the carriers, taking into accountthe above mentioned tolerances which are admitted in practice.

Another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention ischaracterized in that the cuttingshaping unit comprises a frame which ispivotable about a horizontal axis and which serves as a support for theglass shear, for the blank-shaping mechanism and for a drive mechanism,the glass shear comprising two shear blades connected to two shear armsdriven by a first cam system, the blank-shaping mechanism comprising twoshaping cups, guides for the shaping cups, and a second cam system fordriving the shaping cups, the two cam systems being driven by the drivemechanism. Consequently, the cutting-shaping unit has a very compactconstruction and is readily adjustable.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to theinvention, the shear arms are pivotable about a vertical axis, eachshear arm being displaceable in a horizontal plane by means of a springand an adjusting arm, each adjusting arm cooperating with an individualcam disc. The shear blades driven in this manner have a very simple andidentical movement pattern, with the result that the cutting of theglass portions is properly reproducible and can be performed at a highfrequency. The location of the shear works on the glass charges in theshaping cups and later on the blanks on the carriers can be influencedby adjustment of the shear arms with respect to each other by means ofthe adjusting arms.

Another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention ischaracterized in that it comprises a single guide for the lineardisplacement of one shaping cup which acts as a die, the said guidebeing driven by a first cam disc, and two guides for the twodimensionaldisplacement of the second shaping cup which acts as a mould, saidguides being driven by two further cam discs. The shaping cup acting asa die serves merely for intercepting the glass charges'and for pressingthe charges into blanks in cooperation with the other shaping cup actingas a mould; the transfer of the shaped blanks is performed exclusivelyby the second shaping cup, with the result that the mass which is to bedisplaced at a high speed and at a high frequency can be minimized.

In order to enable interception of the cut-off glass charges to bepressed into the desired shape at the correct instant, the interceptioninstant must be variable with respect to the cutting instant. In a lastpreferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, this isreadily possible in that the shear-driving cam discs are mounted on afirst cam shaft, the cup-driving cam discs being mounted on a second camshaft, each cam shaft being driven by a worm wheel which cooperates witha worm, one of the worms being journalled in an adjustable sleeve andbeing coupled to the other worm by way of a slide-key connection. Thedesired phase shift of the cutting motions of the shear blades and theseizing movements of the shaping cups can be accurately and simplyadjusted by displacement of the adjustable sleeve.

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference tothe drawing.

FIGS. 1a to 1i diagrammatically show a number of successive phases inthe manufacture of a hollow glass article, using the method according tothe invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the device according to theinvention,

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation of the device,

FIG. 4 is a plan view at an increased scale of a part of the device,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the part of the device shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a plan view at an increased scale of the cutting-shaping unit,

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cutting-forming unittaken along the line VIIVII in the FIGS. 5 and 6,

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG.6, and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX IX in FIG. 5.

The method according to the invention will be described in detail withreference to the FIGS. la to 1k. FIG. la illustrates the cutting phasein which a glass charge C is cut from a stream of molten glass A bymeans of shear blades B; the reference D denotes the centre line of theglass stream A; a shaping cup E which acts as a die is stationary atthis instant, whilst a mouldlike shaping cup F performs a combinedrotary and linear movement according to the arrows G and H in thedirection of the die E. FIG. 1b shows the interception phase in whichthe cut off glass charge C is intercepted during its free-fall bythe dieE, linearly moving in the horizontal direction according to the arrow K,and is pressed into the mould F which is now stationary, whilst theshearblades B move to their rest position in the direction denoted by thearrows L. FIG. 1c shows the pressing and shaping of the interceptedglass charge into a blank M by the cups E and F; the reference N denotesa plate-like carrier which moves according to the arrow 0 in thedirection of the centre line D and which is provided with an orifice P.

FIG. 1d shows the beginning of the transfer phase; die E returns in thehorizontal direction according to the arrow K to its rest position shownin FIG. la; the mould F performs a combined linear rotary movementaccording to the arrows G and H in the direction of the carrier N, whichmeanwhile has closely approached the centre line D of the glass-streamA; during the transfer of the blank M it is held by vacuum in ducts Q(FIG. la) in the mould F. In the phase shown in'FIG. Ie, the E is in therest position, whilst the mould F still performs a combined rotary andlinear movement; the carrier N has meanwhile passed the centre line D ofthe glass flow A. FIG. lf shows the instant at which the blank M isdeposited on the orifice P of the carrier N, the vacuum in the ducts Qof the mould F being removed and replaced by an overpressure; the mouldF is then displaced in the horizontal direction only according to thearrow G at a speed and in a direction which are the same as the speedand the direction of movement of the carrier N. The blank M now bears onthe carrier with an edge portion M. The shear blades B then startanother cutting movement according to the arrows L, thus initiating anew cycle.

The die E and the mould F move with their centre lines X and Y,respectively, according to a movement pattern which is situated in avertical plane through the centre line D of the glass stream A, that isto say the plane of the drawing; this plane also touches the pathdescribed by the centre line Z of the orifice P in the carrier N; in thesituation shown in FIG. 1f, the centre line Z of the opening P passesthrough this vertical tangent plane during deposition of the blank M.

After the central portion of the blank M has sagged somewhat through theopening P of the carrier N, this portion is completely pressed throughthe opening P in known manner by means of a blowing head U and is blownto form a parison R. The parison is subsequently given its ultimatedesired shape by means of a blowing mould S as shown in FIG. 1h.Subsequently, the edge portion M of the original blank is removed fromthe carrier N by means of knives T, and the hollow glass article V thusobtained is removed from the carrier N by tapping with a hammer W.

The described phases, i.e., the cutting of a glass charge, theinterception and the shaping of the glass charge into a blank, thetransfer of the blank onto a carrier, and the formation of the blankinto a hollow glass article, are performed in consecutive cycles at ahigh frequency.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a plan view and a side elevation, respectively, ofadevice for performing the method according to the invention, only theelements which are necessary for the understanding of the inventionbeing shown. This device 1 mainly consists of a cuttingshaping unit 3and a blowing unit 5; the two units are arranged separate from eachother. The blowing unit comprises a rotary table 9 which is driven at aconstant speed by a motor (not shown) and which comprises a series ofplate-like carriers 11, each of which is provided with an orifice 12(FIG. 5), and which cooperate with blowing heads 13 and pivotableblowing moulds 15. The carriers 11 are slidable, by way of a stationarycam disc 17, between a slid-out receiving position and a withdrawnblowing position such that the centre line 18 (FIG. 5) oftheir opening12 follows the path denoted by the reference 19 in FIG. 2; during thetakingup of the glass blanks supplied by the cutting-shaping unit 3, thecarriers 11 are in the receiving position (at the left in FIG. 3);during the blowing and forming operation ofthe blanks, the carriers arein the blowing position (at the right in FIG. 3) and complete, togetherwith the blowing heads 13 and the blowing moulds 15, the path denoted bythe reference 21 in FIG. 2.

The blowing unit 5 is provided with wheels 23 bearing on a frame 25 andis displaceable in the direction of the cutting-shaping unit 3. Theframe 25 with the blowing unit 5 can be adjusted in the verticaldirection by means of jacks 27. The cutting-shaping unit is arranged tobe pivotable about a stationary shaft 29. The reference 31 denotes theoutlet of a feeder 33 of a glass furnace not shown. The operation of theblowing unit 5 is known per se, so it need not be further describedherein.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show, at an increased scale, the cutting-shaping unit 3and a part of the blowing unit 5 in a plan view and in a side elevation,respectively, certain parts being omitted in FIG. 4 for the sake ofclarity. The cutting-shaping unit 3, comprising a glass shear 41 withshear blades 43, a blank-shaping mechanism 45 with shaping cups 47 and48 and a drive mechanism 49, is driven at a constant speed,synchronously with the blowing unit 5, by a motor not shown. The unit 3is designed and arranged with respect to the outlet 31 of feeder 33 suchthat the cutting point of the shear blades 43, the movement pattern ofthe shaping cups 47 and 48, and the centre line of the discharge duct 53in the outlet 31 are situated in one vertical plane ll (FIG. 5). Using anut 57 which cooperates with a threaded spindle 55, the cutting-shapingunit 3 can be pivoted about the shaft 29 and its level with respect tothe outlet 31 of the feeder 33 can be adjusted. The blowing unit 5 canbe adjusted in a direction transverse to the plane II such that the path19 which is described by the centre lines 18 of the orifices 12 in thecarriers 11 tanges the vertical plane l-I within the tolerances admittedin practice.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cutting-shaping unit 3, comprising theglass shear 41, the blank-shaping mechanism 45 and the drive mechanism49. The shear blades 43 are mounted on two shear arms 61 which arepivotable about a vercial shaft 63. Each shear arm is provided with anadjusting bolt 65 and an adjusting arm 67. Springs 69 press the sheararms 61 with the bolts 65 against the adjusting arms 67 which cooperate,via a cam roller 71, with cam discs 73, on a cam shaft 77. The stroke ofthe shear blades 43 can be adjusted by means of the bolts 65. Theblank-shaping mechanism 45 comprises two shaping cups 47 and 48, the cup47 being constructed as a die and the cup 48 as a mould. The cup 47,performing only a linear movement, is connected to a rod 79 which isguided in a air cylinder 81 acting as a spring and is actuated by a camdisc 83 via a lever 85. As is shown in the FIGS. 7 and 8, the mould 48is connected to a gearwheel 89 which is journalled in a sleeve 91. Thesleeve 91 is mounted on a sleeve shaft 93 and reciprocates on adisplaceable rack shaft 95. If the two shafts 93 and 95 move at the samespeed in the same direction, the cup 48 is displaced in the samedirection, without rotation. If a speed difference exists between thetwo shafts 93 and 95, the cup 48 will perform a linear and a rotarymovement. The shafts 93 and 95 are provided with a grooved ring 97 and99, respectively, which cooperate with the forked ends of levers 101 and103, respectively. The levers 101 and 103 with the shafts 93 and 95 aredisplaced by cam discs 105 and 107 via cam rollers 109 and 111 and byair cylinders 113 and 115 (FIG. 4). The cam discs 83, 105 and 107 aremounted on a common cam shaft 117.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through the drive mechanism 49 of thecutting-shaping unit 3. Mounted on the cam shafts 77 and 117 are wormwheels 119 and 121 which cooperate with worms 123 and 125, respectively.One of the worms, i.e., the shear-driving worm 123 in the embodimentshown, is journalled in a sleeve 127 which can be displaced in the axialdirection by means of an adjusting screw 129. The shear-driving worm 123is coupled to the cup-driving worm by way of a slide-key connection 131.The worm 125 is driven via the drive shaft 133 and the gearwheels 135and 137. If the worm 123 is pulled in the longitudinal direction, anangular shift occurs of the worm wheel 119 with respect to the wormwheel 121, and hence a phase shift drive of the glass shear 41 and theblankshaping mechanism 45.

Using the method and the device according to the invention, hollow glassarticles can be manufactured at frequencies which could not be realizedby means of similar devices known thus far. Prolonged tests havedemonstrated that the device is very reliable as a result of itscomparatively simple but very efficient construction. Therefore, thedevice according to the invention fills a void between the knowncaroussel machines having a comparatively low production capacity andthe so-termed ribbon machines which have a high capacity but whichrequire very high investments whilst their capacity often far exceedsthe required capacity.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing hollow glass articles comprising the stepsof:

severing glass charges from a stream of molten glass;

seizing said severed charges in their free fall and shaping them intoblanks;

successively transferring said blanks onto the supporting surface ofcarriers which are traveling in a closed path and which are providedwith an orifice,

the blanks being transferred during said transferring step exclusivelyaccording to \a twodimensional movement pattern which extends partlyparallel to the supporting surface of the carrier;

subsequently forming the blanks into hollow articles by the sagging oftheir central portion through the orifice of the carriers;

subjecting the sagged portion to a forming operation to produce formedarticles; and

removing the articles thus obtained from the carriers.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement pattern of theblanks is situated in a vertical plane which also forms a tangent planewith the path of movement described by the center lines of the orificesin the carriers.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blanks are deposited onthe carriers substantially at the instant at which the centre line ofthe orifices in the carriers passes through the vertical tangent plane,the horizontal component of the movement pattern then constantly havingthe same direction as the movement of the carriers during the passagepast the tangent plane.

1. A method of manufacturing hollow glass articles comprising the stepsof: severing glass charges from a stream of molten glass; seizing saidsevered charges in their free fall and shaping them into blanks;successively transferring said blanks onto the supporting surface ofcarriers which are traveling in a closed path and which are providedwith an orifice, the blanks being transferred during said transferringstep exclusively according to a two-dimensional movement pattern whichextends partly parallel to the supporting surface of the carrier;subsequently forming the blanks into hollow articles by the sagging oftheir central portion through the orifice of the carriers; subjectingthe sagged portion to a forming operation to produce formed articles;and removing the articles thus obtained from the caRriers.
 2. A methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement pattern of the blanks issituated in a vertical plane which also forms a tangent plane with thepath of movement described by the center lines of the orifices in thecarriers.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blanks aredeposited on the carriers substantially at the instant at which thecentre line of the orifices in the carriers passes through the verticaltangent plane, the horizontal component of the movement pattern thenconstantly having the same direction as the movement of the carriersduring the passage past the tangent plane.